ITTC Project

Continuous-band OFDM System for High Speed Optical Transmission

Project Award Date: 04-01-2010

Description

Orthogonal frequency-domain multiplexing (OFDM) has been applied to optical transmission systems to increase the optical bandwidth efficiency and improve the tolerance to performance degradation effects such as chromatic dispersion and polarization mode dispersion. OFDM transmitters and receivers rely on high speed digital signal processing and A/D-D/A conversion. While OFDM systems operating at 20Gb/s have been demonstrated, further data increases will depend on advances in high-speed D/A conversion electronics. Nortel's electronic pre-compensation or post-compensation products for optical transmission systems use sophisticated CMOS technology and built-in high speed A/D-D/A converters.

It would be useful if this capability could be extended to implement OFDM systems. ITTC researchers will investigate a novel coherent band-combining technique to enhance the capability of OFDM systems. The concept is based on the use of a mutually coherent optical frequency comb, and each component of this frequency comb carries a group of OFDM channels. If orthogonally between adjacent groups can be maintained, a continuous optical bandwidth can be used to carry optical channels without the need of a guard-band between them. This will allow a much higher transmission data rate than the current DIA converter speed can provide. It will also make the transmission data rate flexible without sacrificing the bandwidth efficiency.

Investigators

Project Sponsors

Primary Sponsor(s): CIENA Corporation

Partner with ITTC

The
Information and Telecommunication Technology Center at the
University of Kansas has developed several assistance policies
that enhance interactions between the Center and local,
Kansas, or national companies.

ITTC
assistance includes initial free consulting (normally one to
five hours). If additional support is needed, ITTC will offer
one of the following approaches:

Sponsored
Research Agreement

Individuals
and organizations can enter into agreements with KUCR/ITTC and
provide funds for sponsored research to be performed at ITTC
with the assistance of faculty, staff and students.

Licensing
and Royalty/Equity Agreement

An
ITTC goal is the development of investment-grade technologies
for transfer to, and marketing by, local, Kansas, and national
businesses. To enhance this process, the Center has developed
flexible policies that allow for licensing, royalty, and
equity arrangements to meet both the needs of ITTC and the
company.

Commercialization
Development

Companies
with a technology need that can be satisfied with ITTC's
resources can look to us for assistance. We can develop a
relationship with interested partners that will provide for
the development of a technology suited for commercialization.

ITTC
Resource Access

ITTC
resources, including computers and software systems, may be
made available to Kansas companies in accordance with the
Center's mission and applicable Regents and University
policies.